Israeli election monitor blocks Arab party, clears far-rightists

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s election monitor disqualified an Arab party described by Prime Minister Benjamin as supporting terrorism from a national election in April, while approving far-right Jewish candidates who may be key to his hope of winning a fifth term.

The Central Elections Committee voted 17-10 to bar the joint Arab party Raam-Balad from the election in accordance with a motion filed by Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.

Likud alleged that Balad “championed the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state”, and said that Raam, through its alliance with it, should also be disqualified.

The committee also struck down motions by a liberal Jewish movement and centre-left politicians against Michael Ben-Ari and Itamar Ben-Gvir, adherents of late anti-Arab rabbi Meir Kahane. The motions branded their Jewish Power party as racist.